Wednesday, February 3, 2010

Apron Memories

I don't know how many children today know what an apron is, but, because aprons evoke sweet memories from my childhood, I wanted our four-year-old granddaughter Avery to know.

When she was around three years old, I rummaged through a box of keepsakes and found a couple of aprons my grandmother made for me when I was a little girl. I showed them to Avery, and told her that her great-great-grandmother made them. Of course, that doesn't mean much to her right now, but one day it will. She loves wearing the aprons, and I captured this picture of her wearing one after her bath one night.

She wears them sometimes when we cook, too, and I wouldn't take anything for her enjoying them like I did when I was little.

I recently received an e-mail featuring a story about aprons, and I thought it was sweet and want to share it with you today.

The History of Aprons

The principal use of Grandma's apron was to protect the dress underneath, because she only had a few. It was easier to wash aprons than dresses, and it also served as a potholder for removing hot pans from the oven.

It was wonderful for drying children's tears, too, and on occasion was even used for cleaning little ears.

From the chicken coop, the apron was used for carrying eggs, and sometimes half-hatched eggs to be finished in the warming oven.

When company came, aprons were ideal hiding places for shy kids. And when the weather was cold, Grandma wrapped it around her arms.

Those big old aprons wiped many a perspiring brow, as she bent over the hot wood stove. Chips and kindling wood were brought into the kitchen in it, too.

From the garden, it carried all sorts of vegetables, and after the peas had been shelled, it carried out the hulls.

In the fall, the apron was used to bring in apples that had fallen from the trees.

When unexpected company drove up the road, it was surprising how much furniture that old apron could dust in a matter of seconds.

When dinner was ready, Grandma walked out onto the porch, waved her apron, and the menfolks knew it was time to come in from the fields to dinner.

It will be a long time before someone invents something that will replace that 'ole-timey apron' that served so many purposes.

I cherish the memory of my grandmother in her apron, bustling around the kitchen ... and I can still picture it hanging on a hook, soft and faded from being washed and ironed so many times ... always ready for the next time she needed it.

7 comments:

Stacey said...

Such a sweet story and sweet picture of Avery. You are making wonderful memories with her. I think I've said that before but that's what always crosses my mind when you talk about her. :)

Seeing the dogwood blooms on your banner this morning was good for my soul!

Dixie said...

what a sweet story... and a little history too! My sister makes pretty aprons which I sell in my booth and on Etsy... two thanksgivings ago, she made a pretty child-size one for my grandaughter who was then 5 yrs. It's funny that something as simple and useful as an apron seems to have lost it's functional place in modern kitchens... I wear mine all the time... I'm voting for the "comeback" of the apron!
Wonderful post! precious granddaughter!
Blessings. Dixie

Deb said...

you are a great grandma passing on the apron tradition...too many girls don't know about aprons these days...such a cute photo..

Linda @ A La Carte said...

Such a sweet photo and sweet story also. I love aprons!

RachelD said...

Your Sweetie in her apron is just such a wonderful photo! What lovely memories you're making together.

We have one little pink one that's served for all three of the GrandDaughters, and last Christmas, the littlest one gave me a set---one for me and one in her size.

We made pictures in the kitchen with each and every little Grand, with them in the small one and me wearing mine-to-match.

And I'd just mentioned yesterday that when we did the last visit to my family home as it was sold, I just opened Mother's "apron drawer" and upended it into a box to bring home.

Marjorie (Molly) Smith said...

Avery looks so sweet in her little apron...one day it will have special meaning to her, when she understands who made it. I remember my Granny wearing an apron, but I guess the one person who really sticks in my mind is my Hubby's Granny...Granny Rabbit...she was as round as she was tall, but she loved her aprons and she indeed whipped many tears away with it, including mine from time to time. I will always miss her sweet smile and gentle hands, but most of all her love of her aporns

The Quintessential Magpie said...

Cute as can be!

XO,

Sheila :-)